Chargers Power Rankings Roundup: Bolts remain outside top 10 despite win over Chiefs

The Chargers have now won their past three games since coming out of the bye week and has dispatched both Super Bowl participants from this past February. Still, that’s not been enough to warrant more respect from around the media. As one of five AFC teams with double-digit wins, they’re still being viewed as a pseudo-contender thanks to a porous offensive line that is somehow being overcome by massive performances elsewhere on the team.

Los Angeles visit the 6-7-1 Cowboys this week and have a chance to get to 11 wins which would tie their win total from a season ago. That would be one heck of an accomplishment by this team after going through a more difficult schedule this season compared to last.

With that said, let’s go ahead and see where they landed amongst the rankings this week.

USA Today – #11

“Jim Harbaugh took the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second year coaching them. But no way he replicates that trick with Bolts. Right?“ – Nate Davis

CBS Sports – #11

‘‘Two victories in six days sure change the outlook on this team, beating the Eagles and Chiefs in successive weeks. The defense has really come on.” – Pete Prisco

ESPN – #11

‘‘Tuipulotu has emerged as one of the league’s best pass rushers, leading the Chargers with a career-high 12 sacks this season. The 2023 second-round pick sat behind outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack for his first two years, and he has put it all together in his first season as a full-time starter. Tuipulotu is tied with the Broncos’ Nik Bonitto for the eighth-highest pressure rate in the league (12.9%). Eligible for a contract extension after this season, he is well-positioned for a long-term deal with the Chargers.” – Kris Rhim

Pro Football Talk – #11

They’ve fully taken on the mindset of their head coach.” – Mike Florio

The Athletic – #11

‘‘Maybe this should go to quarterback Justin Herbert, but Tuipulotu just keeps making plays. He had two more sacks and nine more pressures as the Chargers chased the Chiefs out of the playoff race Sunday. Tuipulotu is now tied for fifth in the NFL in sacks (12) and fourth in splash-play rate (15.7 percent). He has seven additional tackles for loss.” – Josh Kendall

NFL.com – #11

‘’The Chargers have won three straight games, and they’ve beaten last season’s Super Bowl teams in back-to-back thrillers. You can thank the defense for both, coming up with critical late interceptions in the red zone to finish them off. On Sunday, it was Derwin James’ INT of Gardner Minshew with 20 seconds left, after Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL. The significance of this win can’t be understated, officially ending the Chiefs’ dynastic run at Arrowhead, and the way the defense is playing now makes the Chargers look like legitimate contenders. That said, the shorthanded offense hasn’t carried its share of the weight lately, with Justin Herbert throwing his 12th interception of the season — his fourth straight game with a pick. The division race mathematically remains up for grabs, and Herbert must be smarter with the ball down the stretch.” – Eric Edholm

Yahoo Sports – #12

‘‘The headline was the Chiefs being eliminated from the playoffs and Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending injury, but the Chargers deserve plenty of credit for that 16-13 win at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers are becoming a defensive force under coordinator Jesse Minter. They’ve allowed 46 points in three games since the bye. In a wide-open AFC, the combination of an elite head coach, superstar quarterback and top defense makes the Chargers dangerous.” – Frank Schwab

Bleacher Report – #13

“The Los Angeles Chargers have quietly won 10 games, which is weird to say considering they’re one of five AFC teams with double-digit wins. However, the Chargers’ performances haven’t been pretty, particularly with the offensive line issues the team continues to overcome.”

“Right now, Los Angeles’ success is built around a swarming defense. The unit hasn’t allowed more than 20 points since before Halloween. As a result, the Chargers own the AFC’s No. 5 seed if the playoffs began today.” — Brent Sobleski